Breaking the Word

As the Father loves me, so I also love you. Remain in my love. If you keep my commandments, you will remain in my love, just as I have kept my Father's commandments and remain in his love. "I have told you this so that my joy may be in you and your joy may be complete. (Jn 15:9-11)

Jesus speaks of love and this love is the basis for the kingdom that he has come to establish. God so loved the world that he sent his only son to redeem the world. God’s love for the world was such. This love of God becomes the model for Jesus love. Jesus love for the world is identical to that of the father. He imitates the father so much that he is ready to sacrifice his life for the world.

The disciples are asked to remain in his love. To remain in the love of Jesus they have to keep the commandments of Jesus. Love is expressed in keeping the commandments. The commandment of Jesus is also very clear: love one another. His commandments are not rules and rubrics rather they are only one and that is to love.

Love for one another which is the commandment of Jesus and this love is made visible love for Jesus and Jesus himself imitates the father. This love is what that brings joy and happiness. Love is what that makes the joy complete. 

"I am the true vine, and my Father is the vine grower. He takes away every branch in me that does not bear fruit, and everyone that does he prunes so that it bears more fruit. You are already pruned because of the word that I spoke to you. Remain in me, as I remain in you. Just as a branch cannot bear fruit on its own unless it remains on the vine, so neither can you unless you remain in me. I am the vine, you are the branches. Whoever remains in me and I in him will bear much fruit, because without me you can do nothing. Anyone who does not remain in me will be thrown out like a branch and wither; people will gather them and throw them into a fire and they will be burned. If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask for whatever you want and it will be done for you. By this is my Father glorified, that you bear much fruit and become my disciples. (Jn 15:1-8)

The branch that does not bear fruit is cut away. This is done by the father. The father is the one who looks after the plant and it is he who does the pruning and cutting. The branch that yields fruit is pruned to bear more fruit. So any branch needs to be pruned or cut off. Pruning is a must for a branch. Likewise the disciples are pruned by the father. Pruning is done by of the word of God.

The second quality that is seen in the branch is that it should remain with the plant. A branch cannot bear fruit without pruning so also a branch cannot bear fruit without remaining with the plant. Closeness to the plant, belonging to the plant or remaining with the plant is necessary for the branch to bear fruit. The disciple who has a sense of belonging to Jesus and closeness to Jesus will bear fruit.

Pruning and remaining with the plant are necessary and they in turn will make happen whatever is asked of the father. The vine grower will do everything to the branch that remains with the plant to bear fruit. This in turn will glorify the father.